Vulnerability is essential, as it challenges our societal notions of strength and power, urging us to face our truths and embrace our authentic selves despite fear, pain, and the temptation to hide behind coping mechanisms. In this awakening, we integrate dualities, release darkness through acceptance, and create space for our true power to emerge — through vulnerability, love, and self-awareness.
. . .
Vulnerability is a tricky thing. We live in a society with ambiguous ideas about strength, power, and courage — a society that often subsists on basic impulses, emotional bargaining, manipulation, and psychological underdevelopment. As adults, vulnerability is particularly challenging. We strive for confidence, projecting an air of strength, balance, control, and availability. Yet, we tend to equate vulnerability with weakness — that’s the catch. Preconceived ideas about how relationships should look and how we want to be perceived create a fog of noise, rendering us ineffective when things get tough. Truth and character will always surface, no matter how much we subdue, suppress, edit, or try to hide behind guilt, shame, anger, blame, and other coping mechanisms. Left unchecked, these only lead to mental and physical health issues.
Pain is pain. Many of us have endured it in various forms, leaving a deep part of us unfulfilled, especially in matters of love. This often results in struggles with adulthood, as we stumble and collide with each other across all aspects of society.
Vulnerability, therefore, is essential.
Collectively, it would seem we are awakening. Today, the exploration of dualities — the yin and yang, right and wrong, masculine and feminine — is more prevalent. Riots, social movements, the information age, legal reforms, and the exposure of hidden truths all push us to shatter outdated paradigms. As a species, we are integrating everything that has come before, releasing darkness through acceptance, and creating space for powerful intentions to take root. Vulnerability is at the core of this shift.
Vulnerability: capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt, as by a weapon. We’ve all been hurt — perhaps deeply — and fear getting hurt again. So, do we isolate, retreat, hibernate, avoid risks, and settle for a lesser version of ourselves? That might protect us temporarily, but life relentlessly pushes on. It refuses to stagnate. Living as a mere shadow of ourselves only reinforces feelings of emptiness, a lack of vitality, and a heartbreaking loss of motivation — especially when it comes to pursuing what excites and fulfills us.
The true weapons of mass destruction have always been fear-based ideas and massive lies perpetuated by ancient forces within our realm. Yet more and more of us are realizing our true power through a deeper, heart-centered intelligence. Love knows. We know. We feel it. We embody it.
It starts — and it ends — within. Reignite your inner fire. Face the truth of who you are and who you may be pretending to be. Reconnect with your authentic self and embrace your unique story. As Matt Kahn says, “Whatever arises, love that.” The time has come.
Vulnerability is the key.
Love your life.